Local mental health officials say gun law will cost millions

8:00 AM,
Feb. 28, 2013

Written by

Jon Campbell
Albany Bureau

New York's new gun laws include an "unfunded mandate of an unknown and potentially disastrous magnitude" for county governments, according to a statewide group of local mental health officials.

The state Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors in recent days has circulated a memorandum opposing a specific provision in the gun-control package that would require mental-health professionals to report any patients they believe could be dangerous to themselves or others.

Those reports in most cases would be filed with local mental-health departments, which would be required to ...